Thought I'd use YVR's free internet to my advantage and get my blog on. May as well give a reason to dragging this laptop around the world. I swear my carry-on adds a fair bit to my overall luggage weight, laptop, camera, guitar... it's alot of stuff.
However, my other pack isn't all that light either, I managed to fall on my back, beetle style, in front of some transit guards at the Vancover City Centre train station. For a second there I thought they were both going to have to come over and help me up. Ah I'd forgotten how fun it is to lug large packs on public transport and use them as a vehicle to provide ultimate embarrassment. It's been a while.
In fact its been 6 months in Canada and nearly 6 months at camp, so being in the aiport (to actually catch a plane as opposed to saying farewell/loitering) is quite a strange experience. I was the last gapper left at camp and one of the last staff, so I have already said alot of goodbyes in the last few days, but I think the hardest one was saying goodbye to the Valley. The Upper Squamish Valley has been my home for the last 6 months, is the most beautiful place I've ever worked and the meeting ground for the congregation of some of the most incredible people I've ever met. As Parky drove me out of the driveway and down the valley road, I realised how much I'm going to miss this place. It's funny, it doesn't really feel like I'm not going to be back there in a couple of days, waiting for a fresh busload of kids to hang out with for the next few days, sitting in the staff lounge watching Role Models (for the 80th time) and riding a bike with no suspension around Boundary Trail just to save travelling time between my cabin and the Lodge. I'm sure once my flight touches down in Phoenix and I find myself out of the forest and into the desert it will dawn on me. Best of luck to Emily, Duncan, Trev, Eddie and Parky who are still busy tidying up the site after our last group a few days ago.
As sad as it is to leave my 'home' and all my new friends, embarking on the next phase of my gap year is incredibly exciting! It's kind of fun to have everything I own in the world once again fitting into a backpack (well it will be like that after I go to the US, I have an extra bag right now of things I'm sending home) and to be footloose and carefree. Also, all the visiting I have in store for the next few months in uber exciting. Can't wait to see Spud, Vicki, Summer and Kylie in Phoenix! In fact, boarding just opened and for some strange reason for a change I am at the front of the plane, so I better go!!
P.S. Here are a few more pictures from the Fall:
BC Coastal Mountains on the way back from Whistler
The weekend I helped Emily move into her Whistler house. Bit of a jump photo taken by a stranger. Love it
Sunset over Burrard Bridge. We were driving into Vancouver to celebrate Vanessa's birthday/Megan's housewarming
Sunset over Kitsilano Beach in Van. We took heaps of photos of this because it looked kind of like an Aussie sunset
Duncan with his new G&S skatey
One of my favourite photos I've taken all trip. The 'Band Photo' featuring Duncan, Eddie, Tyler and Crumbles
Night shots of the cabins in West Village: Charlie Charlie, Cloudburst, Serratus and Zenith
View from the Watershed Grill, our most frequented restaurant in Brackendale (the suburb outside Squamish)
Belden and Tyler at Tim Hortons, the Canadian's answer to overpriced Starbucks. Large Hot Chocolate $1.56... my drink of choice (mainly because it sets you back less than a toonie)
Crumbles, Tyler and I looking off into nowhere the night of our very first Thanksgiving. Thanks again to Trev's parents for welcoming us into their home for an amazing meal!
The annual Valley-wide Thanksgiving potluck dinner Parky hosted at camp. As none of the camp staff can cook/have the facilities, we earnt our meal organising parking and entertaining children. Some of the most amazing food ever, prepared by residents from the Upper Squamish Valley
The driveway on the 3 degree morning when we watched in snow in the mountains around camp. If you look at the trees on the mountain, you can see a line where the snow fell to. Aussies were incredibly excited about this, Canadians and Kiwi just complained about the cold.
Crumbles, Tyler and I on the doorstep of the Fort we built on Guerilla Monday (a Monday off where we spent the entire day running about camp dressed as guerrilla fighters shooting nerf guns) The cigarette Crumbles is holding is fake by the way... we were going for the authentic Vietnam look
Outside the high-tech camouflage wall Tyler built on the Fort. Three of the happiest guerillas you will ever meet.
Fall staff dinner at the Copper House opposite Shannon Falls in Squamish. Such an amazing night, excellent food, even better company and a really nice way to round off the Fall and the whole 6 months.
The place settings at our dinner, decorated by hand by our boss Shannon Wilson
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